Apparatus for forming metallic ring members



Aug 2 WWE R. E, ROPER APPARATUS FOR FORMING METALLIC RING MEMBERSOriginal Filed Jan. L9, .1962

6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

[Ii/MENTOR. RALPH E. ROPER BY fau wyme Aug. 2, 1966 R. E. ROPERAPPARATUS FOR FORMING METALLIC RING MEMBERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 OriginalFiled Jan.

M ww w o R J7. 5 aommi .0... F H 0% w m "I AM 5 w R U M w I w 5 X H \v dO 5 G do .1 F

Aug. 2, 1966 R. E. ROPER 3,263,477

APPARATUS FOR FORMING METALLIC RING MEMBERS Original Filed Jan. 19, 19626 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENT Fig. 12- RALPH E. R0?

BY imam/z ZdnM,$'M #uM- AHovngus R. E. ROPER 3,263,477

APPARATUS FOR FORMING METALLIC RING MEMBERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 2,1966 Original Filed Jan. 19, 1962 INVENTOR. RALPH E. ROPER BY xnlwml,WMSMWM AHurneys 1966 R. E. ROPER 3,263,477

APPARATUS FOR FORMING METALLIC RING MEMBERS Original Filed Jan. 19, 19626 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig, 2%

IN VEN TOR.

RALPH E. ROPER BY W ZIJWJJM f 20M lHhameys Aug. 2, 1966 Original Filed.Jan. 19, 1962 R. E. ROPER 5x1563 477 APPARATUS FOR FORMING METALLIC RINGMEMBERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. RALPH E. ROPER zumwgnw MM UnitedStates Patent 3,263,477 APPARATUS FOR FORMING METALLI RING MEMBERS RalphE. Roper, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to Wallace Expanding Machines,Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 167,320, Jan. 19,

1962. This application Apr. 28, 1965, Ser. No. 453,559

9 Claims. (Cl. 72-401) This application is a continuation of myapplication, Serial No. 167,320, filed January 19, 1962, and nowabandoned.

The present invention relates to forming apparatus particularly adaptedfor forming annular members which flare at opposite ends such asautomobile wheel rims and the like.

Various means and methods such as spinning are available for the finalforming of double-flaring annular wheel rims. While such methods andmeans are workable, they have not proved completely satisfactory in allrespects. For example, the accuracy of conventional wheel formingapparatus is only suflicient to hold tolerances in diameter within arange of .020 inch.

Consequently, one object of the present invention is to provide improvedforming apparatus capable of extreme accuracy in forming wheel rims.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved metalforming apparatus.

Still another object of the present invent-ion is to provide improvedapparatus for forming double-flaring annular members.

A further object of the present invention is to provide formingapparatus incorporating improved means for supporting the workpiece andfor removing it from the forming die.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide apparatusfor forming wheel rims which cuts down thin out or reduction inthickness of the workpiece during the forming operation.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

One embodiment of the present invention comprises a forming apparatusincluding a pair of coaxial generally conical dies facing toward oneanother. Means are provided for moving the 'dies together whereby theymay be seated within the opposite ends of an annular workpiece inengagement with the inner surface of the workpiece. There is alsoprovided a plurality of outer dies arranged in a pattern coaxial withthe generally conical dies and means for moving the outer dies radiallyinwardly to a position wherein the inner surfaces of the outer diesengage the outer surface of the workpiece and cooperate with thegenerally conical dies to form the workpiece, said outer dies definingan annular configuration in said position.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are vertical sections through a ring formingapparatus embodying the present invention, said sections having certaindetails removed for clarity, showing the general operation of theapparatus and various operating positions and being taken along the line11 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the ring forming apparatus of the presentinvention showing the apparatus with certain portions remove-d andcertain portions broken away for clarity.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 66 of FIG. 5in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a top plan fragmentary view of a horizontal Patented August 2,1966 "ice ring element forming a part of the structure, FIG. 7 beingtaken along the line 77 of FIG. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the structure illustrated in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan fragmentary view of an annular cam element showingmeans for attaching the cam element to accompanying structure.

FIG. 10 is a vertical section taken along the line 1010 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a front elevat-ional view of the structure of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a top plan view of a die carrying element representative of aplurality of die carrying elements forming a part of the presentstructure.

FIG. 13 is a side elevation of the structure of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a vertical section taken along the line 1414 of FIG. 13 inthe direction of the arrows.

FIGS. 15 and 16 are vertical sections with portions removed taken alongthe line 1515 of FIG. 5 and showing the structure of FIGS. 914 inassembled relation, FIG. 16 showing a different operating position thanFIG. 15.

FIGS. 17-20 are vertical sections taken along the line 1717 of FIG. 5 inthe direction of the arrows and showing different operating positions ofa means for disengaging the workpiece from the die.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section similar to and inthe same operating position as FIG. 4 of an alternative embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 disclose thegeneral structure and operation of the present apparatus. The apparatusincludes a press comprising a stationary base 31 and an upper movableplaten 32 which is vertically reciprocable with respect to the base 31.Mounted upon the upper movable platen is an upper die 35 and a pluralityof downwardly projecting posts 36 arranged in a concentric pattern aboutthe upper die 35. A. housing 37, including a base member 38, an annulartop 40 and a cylindrical wall 41 fixed therebetween, supports a lowerdie 42 which projects from base member 38 upwardly toward the upper die35 and is coaxial therewith.

The lower die 42 has an upwardly facing flat surface 45 against whichthe lower surface 46 of the upper die bottoms when the platen 32 is inits lowermost position (FIG. 4). The upper and lower dies are guidedinto a perfectly coaxial relationship by means of an upwardly extendingcylindrical pilot member 47 having the same diameter as and coaxial witha downwardly opening recess 50 in the lower surface of the upper die 35.

The forming surfaces of the upper and lower dies are the surfaces 51 and52, respectively, these surfaces being generally conical in shape buthaving certain annular ridges and hollows and in the present embodimentbeing used to form the internal surface of a wheel rim such as form apart of an automobile and truck wheels. Mounted within the housing 37are a plurality of outer die sections 55 having inwardly facing formingsurfaces 56 which define an annular shape complementary to the surfaces51 and 52 of the upper and lower dies when all of the outer die sections55 are moved inwardly to the position of FIG. 4. The function of theouter die sections 55 is to form the outer surface of the automobilewheel rim.

Each of the die sections 55 is mounted in a manner to be described foronly vertical movement with relation to die carrying elements 57, eachof which is, in turn, mounted for only radial movement with respect tothe axis 60 of the upper and lower dies. The die carrying elements 57are moved inwardly or outwardly by an annular cam member 61 which ismovable downwardly by means of the posts 36 and is movable upwardly bymeans of rods 62 connected to hydraulic pistons (not shown). The annularcam 61 is connected in a manner to be described to the die carryingelements 57 whereby upward movement of the annular cam moves the diecarrying element radially outwardly and downward movement of the annularcam moves the die carrying elements radially inwardly. A pair ofhorizontal ring elements 65 are fixed in spaced relation by means ofsuitable shouldered bolts 64 and receive the outer dies 55 therebetween.It will be clear that the rings 65 function to maintain the outer dies55 all at the same vertical level.

The general forming operation of the present device can be seen from thesequence illustrated in FIGS. 1-4. In FIG. 1, the roughly formed doubletapered workpiece 70 is inserted beneath the upper die 35 and supportedin a manner to be described. This workpiece may be formed from a sheetor strip of material, the ends of which have been welded together andthe opposite sides 70A of which are then flared outwardly to a certainextent.

As shown in FIG. 2, the platen 32 maybe moved downwardly whereby theupper die 35 enters the workpiece 70 and the posts 36 enter apertures 69in the top 40 to force the annular cam 61 downwardly, moving the diecarrying elements 57 inwardly and therewith the outer dies 55. It shouldbe mentioned that a pair of hydraulic lifting jacks 71 are mounted onthe base member 38 and hold the outer die assembly including thehorizontal rings 65 and the outer dies 55 in an upward position as inFIGS. 1 and 2 with the outer dies almost engaging the top 40 of thehousing 37 but prevented from such engagement by stop means describedbelow.

The jacks 71 may include hydraulic means backed up by pressurized air.In other words, a constant air pressure is maintained in a suitablechamber (not shown) and acts against a piston which through hydraulicmeans exerts a constant upward force upon the outer die assembly throughpistons 73 of jacks 71. This constant force is sufficiently great tolift the outer die assembly and maintain it yieldably in the upwardposition of FIGS. 1 and 2 adjacent the top 40.

As the platen 32 continues to move downwardly, the annular cam 61 isforced downwardly to such a position that the tapered cam surfaces 57Aand 61A of the cam and die carrying elements no longer engage, andinstead the vertical surfaces 57B and 61B thereof engage (see FIG. 3).When this occurs, the outer dies 55 have reached their final innermostposition.

Continued downward movement of the platen 32 causes the upper die 35 toforce the workpiece 70 into engagement with the lower die and to formthe workpiece 70 into its final shape. When the upper and lower dies arethus brought together and the outer dies are in their illustratedinnermost position (see FIG. 4), the surfaces 51 and 52 arecomplementary to the surface 56. It will be noted that the outer dieassembly will ride downwardly with the upper die against the action ofthe hydraulic lifting means 71.

The various details of the present apparatus are described and shown inthe remaining figures along with the details of the ejecting apparatusand operation. Referring to FIG. 5, the housing 37 is shown as havingthe top 40 which is provided with six apertures 69 for receiving theposts 36. The top 40 has a central hexagonal opening 90 which receivesthe upper horizontal ring 65 when it is in its uppermost position asshown in FIG. 1. It will be noted that the upper ring 65 also has ahexagonal shape, the same as but slightly smaller than the opening 90whereby the ring may be received within the opening.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the outer dies 55 are made up of twoportions 91 and 92 which are fixed together by a suitable screw means95. Portion 91 of each outer die has the forming face 56 on its innersurface. The horizontal rings 65 are fixed in spaced relation by meansof bolts 64 which include an enlarged central portion 97 havingshoulders 100 against which the ring 65 abuts. The

rings 65 are held in such abutting relation by nuts 101 received uponreduced diameter threaded portions 102 of the bolts 96. On the mutuallyfacing surfaces of the rings, there are provided bearing plates 105against which the upper and lower surfaces of the dies 55 ride.

A plurality of keys 106 are fixed within suitable radially extendingslots 107 in the rings 65 and provide a radial track for each of theouter dies 55, each key 106 being received in a radially extending slotin the upper and lower surfaces of the outer dies 55. The abovementioned stop means which limits the outer dies upward movementcomprises stop blocks 108 and 109 fixed respectively to the die carryingelements 57 and the outer dies 55. Two sets of the blocks are providedon the opposite sides of the device as suggested in FIG. 5. As suggestcdabove, the lifting arrangements 71 normally maintain these blocks inengagement.

The annular cam 61 has fixed thereto a plurality of bearing plates 111(FIG. 9) which are engaged by the posts 36. The annular cam 61 has fixedthereto a plurality of bearing inserts 112 which cam against the camsurfaces 115 of the die carrying elements 57 when the die carryingelements are forced inwardly by downward movement of the annular cam 61.

Also fixedly mounted upon the annular cam 61 is a plurality ofT-elements 116, the heads 117 of which are received within slots 120 ineach of the die carrying elements '57 (FIG. 13). Members 121 are fixedto the die carrying elements 57 adjacent the slots 120 so as to not onlyprovide the surfaces 115 but also provide inner surfaces 122 againstwhich the lower surfaces 125 of the Ts 116 can act to draw the diecarrying elements radially outwardly.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, it can be appreciated that when theannular ring 61 is forced upwardly, the surfaces 125 will engage thesurfaces 122 and cause the members 121 to slide therealong drawing thedie carrying elements 57 outwardly.

Each of the die carrying elements 57 rides upon suitable .bearings uponthe base 38 of the housing 37 and is guided by a central key fixed tothe base and extending radially inwardly. Each of the die carryingelements 57 has a pair of vertically extending members 131 mounted onits inside face 132 (FIG. 12). The elements 131 each have a T-shapedcross section and are each received within a vertically extendingaperture 135 of T-shaped cross section, two of which are formed in therearward face of each outer die 55. The plates 136 (FIG. 12) upon whichthe T-elements 131 are directly mounted act as bearing surfaces for theface 137 of the outer dies 55. It can be seen that the TS 131 permitonly vertical movement of the outer dies 55 with relation to the diecarrying elements 57. Because each of the outer dies 55 is retainedbetween the parallel spaced upper and lower horizontal rings 65, theouter dies 55 are always maintained at the same vertical level.

FIGS. 5 and 17-20 show a means 139 for disengaging the completed wheelrim after it has been formed and also for supporting the workpiece priorto forming. It should be understood that the means 139 is repeated onboth sides of the apparatus in diametrically opposed relation but thatonly one such means 139 is shown and described. Referring to thosefigures, there is illustrated a double lipped member 140 having lips 141(FIG 1) and 142. The member 140 is mounted upon a horizontallyreciprocal member 145, which is enlarged at its inner end 146 and has areduced size tongue 147 formed on its outer end. On the opposite sidesof the member are formed elongated guides 150 which slide withininwardly facing grooves 151 'formed in the inside mutually facingsurfaces of members 152 fixed to the top 40 of the housing 37. Thetongue 147 is slidable within a lower groove 155 formed in the lowersurface of a mounting block 156 also fixed to the top 40. The mountingblock 156 also has an upper groove 154 which is deeper at its portion157 than at its portion 158, said port-ions 157 and 158 being joined bya shoulder 160.

An insert 163 is tfixed within the upper surface of the top 40, isreceived within an elongated recess 1164 in the lower surface of themember 145 and limits the longitudinal movement of that member.

lF-ixed to the outermost end of the block 156 is a pair of members 159which are spaced apart and having fixed thereto an outer plate 161 whichdefines with the members 159 avertically extending aperture 162. withinwhich rides a cam member 165 fixed to the platen 32 and movabletherewith. An arm 166 is pivoted to a pair of horizontal members 167which are fixed to or integral with the reciprocal member 145. In thelower surface of the arm 166, there is received an insert 170 which canbe locked behind the shoulder 160 as in FIGS. 18 and 19.

The operation of the supporting and disengaging means 139 is illustratedserially in FIGS. 17-20. The workpiece 70 is inserted between the lips141 and 142 by a sidewise motion of the workpiece so that the lowerflaring portion 70A is received between the lips 141 and 142 of theopposing means 139. The members 145 are locked inwardly by the camsurface 171 on the cam member 165 and thus provide a solid support forthe workpiece. When the press 32 moves downwardly and moves the upperdie 35 downwardly toward the position of FIG. 17, the cam surface 171prevents the member 145 from re 'tracting until the upper die is firmlyseated in the workpiece as in FIG. 17. Continued downward movement ofthe upper die 35 moves the cam surface 171 out of the path of the member145 so that the lower flaring portion 70A of the workpiece cams againstthe tapered lip 141 and forces retraction of the member 145 against theaction of compression springs 171A, the opposite ends of which areseated within suitable recesses in the block 156 and the member 145 andmembers 167.

When the lower flaring portion 70A of the workpiece passes the lower lip141, it depresses the member 145 to such an extent that the insert 170in the arm 166 drops behind the shoulder 160. A moment on the arm toassist this action is produced by a compression spring 176 receivedwithin a cylindrical recess 177 in the upper surface of the member 145.The opposite end of the spring 176 is received upon a downwardlyprojecting nipple 180 on the lower surface of the arm 166. Thus themembers 145 and 140 and lips 141 and 142 are retained retracted duringdownward movement of the upper die, and the lips do not scrape the sidesof the upper die during such downward movement.

When the die has completed the forming operation and again movesupwardly, it has the workpiece 70 engaged thereon. The die and workpieceare free to pass the lower lip 142 because of the fact that the arm 145is held retracted by means of the insert 170 in engagement with theshoulder 160. After the lower flaring portion 70A passes the lip 141(FIG. 19), continued upward movement of the press 32 causes a projection181 on the cam rod 165 to engage the arm 166 and again return it to theupward position wherein the .springs 171 are free to project the member145 with its double lipped member 140 also being projected. The camsurface 171 also is raised as in FIG. 20 to block the members 145 and140 in projected position. Thus, the upper lip 142 engages the recess182 on the member 70 blocking further upward movement of the workpiecewhereby further upward movement of the upper die withdraws the die fromthe workpiece 70.

After the upper die has moved upwardly to the position of FIG. 1, theworkpiece 70 is free to be withdrawn sidewardly from beneath the platenand upper die and a new workpiece can be inserted in its place. Itshould be understood that the means 139 illustrated in FIGS. 17 20 isrepeated on the opposite side of the device and that both means 139operate as above described.

From the above description it will be obvious that the present inventionprovides an improved forming apparatus which has proved to be extremelyaccurate in the forming of double flaring annular members. It will alsobe clear that the present invention provides improved means forsupporting the workpiece whereby the upper die can be firmly seatedtherein, said means also acting to remove and disengage the workpiecefrom the upper die after forming of the workpiece.

Referring to FIG. 21, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment ofthe present invention which is identical to the above describedembodiment with the exceptions set forth below.

An upper die 200 is provided corresponding to the upper die 35 and outerdie sections 201 correspond to the outer die sections 55. The workpiece202 is a wheel rim for an automobile. Such wheel rims conventionallyrequire a curl 203 at the edges thereof to reduce the possibility ofcutting'a tire when it is being mounted on the wheel rim. Such wheelrims further require a safety bead 205 for retaining the edge of thetire in proper position adjacent the edge of the wheel rim after ablow-out occurs.

Consequently, there is provided in the upper die 200 an annular recessor indentation 206 which defines a stuffing ledge 207. There is alsoprovided in each outer die section 201 an inwardly facing concave recess20 8. When the outer die sections are in the illustrated most inwardposition, the concave recesses thereof define an annular concaveinwardly facing recess which cooperates with the stufling ledge 207 toform the curl 203.

The dies of the present embodiment move in exactly the manner describedabove during the forming operation. That is, the outer dies move totheir most inward position prior to the complete coming together of theupper and lower dies. After the outer dies have moved to their mostinward position, the upper die travels downwardly with the stuflingledge 207 moving along the inwardly facing surface 210 of the outerdies. This action causes the edge of the wheel rim to be held inwardlyand stuffs the metal downwardly between the upper die and the outer die.

When the upper die bottoms against the lower die, the edge of the wheelrim moves outwardly into the recess 208 to form the desired curl 203 asshown in FIG. 21. The outer dies also have formed therein inwardlyfacing concave indentations 211 which, when the outer dies are in theirmost inward position, define an annular concave inwardly facing recess.The stuffing action of the stufiing ledge not only moves the metaldownwardly between the outer and upper dies reducing thin out, but alsocauses the metal to expand outwardly into the indentations 211 formingthe safety bead 205. Stated in another way, the metal thickness isrestored to the clearance provided between the punch and the dies.Furthermore, an actual thickening of material is produced at the pointsdesired such as at 215 in FIG. 21 by reason of the operation of thestuffing ledge.

The structure and operation of the lower die (not shown) of thisalternative embodiment is also modified in exactly the manner describedto form a curl and safety head on the opposite side of the wheel rim.

The invention claimed is:

1. Forming apparatus comprising a pair of elements each having a pair ofprojecting lip's adapted to receive a workpiece there between forsupporting the workpiece when said elements are in a first position, thelips of one element projecting toward the lips of the other element sothat the elements engage the opposite sides of the workpiece when theelements are in said first position, a forming die movable through apath between an initial position and a position at which the die formsthe workpiece, the lips of each pair being spaced apart in the directionOtf said path, a further position of said die along said path being suchthat the die is received by and firmly seated upon the workpiece beingsupported by said elements, said elements being reciprocal away from oneanother from said first position to a second position wherein said lipsare disengaged from said workpiece, a pair of cams fixed with relationto said die and movable therewith, said cams having cam surfaces adaptedto locate and hold said elements in said first position when said die isbetween said initial and further positions and to release said elementsfor movement away from said first position when said die is between saidforming position and said further position, spring means yieldablyholding said elements in said first position, and latch means arrangedto automatically lock said elements in said second position uponmovement of said elements thereto, and projections upon said camspositioned to disengage said latch means as said d-ie moves into saidfurther position from said forming position.

2. Forming apparatus comprising a stationary base, a generally conicallower die fixed to and pointing upwardly from said base, a cylindricalguide of reduced diameter relative to said die and fixed to the upperend of said die, said guide pointing upwardly with the axis of saidguide being vertical and coaxial with said die, a platen mounted forvertical movement over said base, a generally conical upper die fixed tosaid platen and pointing downwardly toward said lower die, said upperdie being coaxial with said lower die and having a cylindrical aperturein its lower face coaxial with said cylindrical guide and equal indiameter thereto, means for moving said platen vertically between anupper position and a lower position wherein said upper die seats againstsaid lower die with said cylindrical guide received in said cylindricalaperture, a plurality of die carrying elements mounted upon said basefor radial movement relative to the axis of said upper and lower dies, aplurality of outer die elements each mounted upon one of said diecarrying elements for vertical movement with respect thereto, a pair ofhorizontal rings fixed in parallel spaced relationship to one anotherand arranged in coaxial relation to said upper and lower dies, saidrings engaging and receiving said outer dies therebetween and beingkeyed to said outer dies by radially extending keys whereby said outerdies can move only radially with respect to said rings, said ringsacting to prevent vertical movement of any of said outer dies withrespect to the remaining outer dies, a housing fixed to said base andsurrounding said lower and outer dies, stop means fixed to said diecarrying elements and limiting upward movement of said outer dies, meansmounted on said base and acting against the lowermost of said rings toyieldably hold it and the outer dies upwardly with the outer dies inengagement with said stop means, an annular cam member received withinsaid outer housing and surrounding said die carrying elements, each ofsaid die carrying elements and said cam element having mutually engagingoutwardly and downwardly tapering cam surfaces whereby, when said camelement is forced downwardly, said die carrying elements are movedinwardly, said cam element and die carrying elements being keyedtogether by T-elements whereby upward movement of said cam member drawssaid die carrying elements outwardly, means carried by said platen forforcing said cam element downwardly, a pair of workpiece supportingelements reciprocably mounted on said housing for radial movementrelative to said dies and each having a pair of lips spaced in thedirection of movement of said upper die, each pair of said lips beingadapted to receive a workpiece therebetween for supporting the workpiecewhen said supporting elements are in a first position, the lips of oneelement projecting towards the lips of the other element so that theelements engage the opposite sides of the workpiece when the elementsare in said first position, said supporting elements being reciprocalaway from one another to a second position wherein said lips aredisengaged from said workpiece, said platen being movable to a furtherposition between said upper and lower position wherein said upper die isfirmly seated within a workpiece supported between said lips, a pair ofcam members fixed with relation to said die and movable therewith, saidcam members each having a cam surface adaptedto locate and hold saidworkpiece supporting elements in said first position when said platen isbetween said upper and said further position and to release saidworkpiece supporting elements for movement to said second position whensaid platen is between said lower position and said funther position.

3. Forming apparatus comprising a pair of coaxial generally conical diespointing toward one another, means for moving said dies together wherebysaid dies may be seated within the opposite ends of an annular workpiecein engagement with the inner surface of the workpiece, a plurality ofouter dies arranged in a pattern coaxial with said generally conicaldies, and means for moving said outer dies radially inwardly to aposition wherein the inner surfaces of said outer dies engage the outersurface of said workpiece and cooperate with said generally conical diesto form the workpiece, said generally conical dies being provided withmutually facing stuffing ledges which 00- operate with said outer diesto stuff the material of the workpiece between said outer dies and saidgenerally conical dies, said outer dies including inwardly facingindentations which provide forming surfaces for the material stuffed bysaid stuffing ledges said generally conical dies each having a generallyconical forming surface and a straight shank of uniform cross sectionwith the stuffing ledge of each die being between the shank and thegenerally conical forming surface of the respective dies; said outerdies including surfaces which define, when said outer dies are in saidposition, straight surfaces of uniform cross section complementary tosaid respective shanks and within which said shanks are movable andacross which said stuffing ledges move to stuff the material of theworkpiece.

4. Forming apparatus comprising a pair of coaxial generally conical diespointing toward one another; first means for moving said dies toward oneanother whereby said dies may be seated within the opposite ends of anannular workpiece in engagement with the inner surface of the workpiece;a plurality of outer dies arranged in a pattern coaxial with saidgenerally conical dies; said first means also being operable after saidconical dies have been so moved together to move said outer diesradially inwardly to a position wherein the inner surfaces of said outerdies engage the outer surface of said workpiece; said first means beingoperable after said outer dies have been so moved inwardly to move saidconical dies firmly together; said generally conical dies being providedwith mutually facing stuffing ledges which cooperate with said outerdies, as said conical dies are moved firmly together, to stuff thematerial of the workpiece between said outer dies and said generallyconical dies; said outer dies including inwardly facing indentationswhich provide forming surfaces for the material stuffed by said stuffingledges said generally conical dies each having a generally conicalforming surface and a straight shank of uniform cross section with thestuffing ledge of each die being between the shank and the generallyconical forming surface of the respective dies; said outer diesincluding surfaces which define, when said outer dies are in saidposition, straight surfaces of uniform cross section complementary tosaid respective shanks and within which said shanks are movable andacross which said stutfing ledges move to stuff the material of theworkpiece.

5. Forming apparatus comprising a pair of coaxial generally conical diespointing toward one another; a plurality of outer dies arranged in apattern coaxial with said generally conical dies; and first means formoving said outer dies radially inwardly to a position wherein saidouter dies are generally between the conical dies and the inner surfacesof said outer dies engage the outer surface of an annular workpiece,said first means being operable when said outer dies are so positionedto move said conical dies together; said conical dies being providedwith mutually facing stufiing ledges which cooperate with said outerdies, as said conical dies are moved together, to stuff the material ofthe workpiece between said outer dies and said generally conical dies;said outer dies including inwardly facing indentations which provideforming surfaces for the material stuffed by said stuffing ledges saidgenerally conical dies each having a generally conical forming surfaceand a straight shank of uniform cross section with the stufiing ledge ofeach die being between the shank and the generally conical formingsurface of the respective dies; said outer dies including surfaces whichdefine, when said outer dies are in said position, straight surfaces ofuniform cross section complementary to said respective shanks and withinwhich said shanks are movable and across which said stuffing ledges moveto stuff the material of the workpiece.

6. Forming apparatus comprising a pair of coaxial generally conical diespointing toward one another; a plurality of outer dies arranged in apattern coaxial with said generally conical dies; and first means formoving said outer dies radially inwardly to a position wherein the innersurfaces of said outer dies engage the outer surface of an annularworkpiece, said first means being operable when said outer dies are sopositioned to move said conical dies together, said generally conicaldies being provided with mutually facing stuffing ledges which cooperatewith said outer dies to stuff the material of the workpiece between saidouter dies and said generally conical dies, said outer dies includinginwardly facing indentations which provide forming surfaces for thematerial stuffed by said stuffing ledges, said outer dies beingrelatively free to move in the direction of movement of said conicaldies to equalize the stuffing action between the outer dies and oneconical die and the stuifing action between the outer dies and the otherconical die said generally conical dies each having a generally conicalforming surface and a straight shank of uniform cross section with thestufiing ledge of each die being between the shank and the generallyconical forming surface of the respective dies; said outer diesincluding surfaces which define, when said outer dies are in saidposition, straight surfaces of uniform cross section complementary tosaid respective shanks and within which said shanks are movable andacross which said stuffing ledges move to stuff the material of theworkpiece.

7. Forming apparatus comprising a pair of coaxial generally conical diespointing toward one another; a plurality of outer dies arranged in apattern coaxial with said generally conical dies; and first means formoving said outer dies radially inwardly to a position wherein saidouter dies are generally between the conical dies and the inner surfacesof said outer dies engage the outer surface of an annular workpiece,said first means being operable when said outer dies are so positionedto move said conical dies together; said conical dies being providedwith mutually facing stuffing ledges which cooperate with said outerdies, as said conical dies are moved together, to stuff the material ofthe workpiece between said outer dies and said generally conical dies;said outer dies including inwardly facing indentations which provideforming surfaces for the material stuffed by said stutfing ledges, saidouter dies having inner surfaces which define, when said outer dies arein said position, an annular configuration having a relatively smallcentral diameter and flaring end portions of greater diameters whichconfiguration is generally complementary to the surfaces of saidgenerally conical dies; said inwardly facing indentations being locatedin said flaring end portions; said generally conical dies havingsurfaces which are inward of said indentations when said conical diesare moved together and which extend in the direction of movement of saidconical dies and are spaced from the workpiece when the conical dies aretogether.

8. The forming apparatus of claim 7 in which said last mentionedsurfaces are spaced a greater distance from said indentations, when saidconical dies are together, than the conical dies are spaced from saidouter dies at portions thereof away from said indentations.

9. Apparatus for forming an annular double flaring workpiece comprisingI3. stationary base, a generally conical lower die fixed to and pointingupwardly from said base, a platen mounted for vertical movement oversaid base, a generally conical upper die fixed to said platen andpointing downwardly toward said lower die in coaxial relation with saidlower die, means for moving said platen vertically between an upperposition and a lower position wherein said upper die seats against saidlower die, a plurality of die carrying elements mounted upon said basefor radial movement relative to the axis of said upper and lower dies, aplurality of outer die elements each mounted upon one of said diecarrying elements for vertical movement with respect thereto, a pair ofhorizontal rings fixed in parallel spaced relationship to one anotherand arranged in coaxial relation to said upper and lower dies, saidrings engaging and receiving said outer dies therebetween and beingkeyed to said outer dies by radially extending keys whereby said outerdies can move only radially with respect to said rings, said ringsacting to prevent vertical movement of any of said outer dies withrespect to the remaining outer dies, a housing fixed to said base andsurrounding said lower and outer dies, stop means fixed to said diecarrying elements and limiting upward movement of said outer dies, meansmounted on said base and acting against the lowermost of said rings toyield-ably hold it and the outer dies upwardly with the outer dies inengagement with said stop means, an annular cam member received withinsaid outer housing and surrounding said die carrying elements, each ofsaid die carrying elements and said cam element having mutually engagingoutwardly and downwardly tapering cam surfaces whereby, when said camelement is force downwardly, said die carrying elements are movedinwardly, said cam element and die carrying elements being also keyedtogether by elements of T-cross section whereby upward movement of saidcam member draws said die carrying elements outwardly, and means carriedby said platen for forcing said cam element downwardly, said platenbeing movable through an intermediate position between said upper andlower position, said cam and said die carrying elements havingvertically extending surfaces which are in engagement when said platenis between said intermediate and lower positions locking said diecarrying elements in an innermost position, said conical dies beingprovided with muually facing stuffing ledges which cooperate with saidouter dies while they are locked in said innermost position to stuff thematerial of the workpiece between said outer dies and said generallyconical dies, said outer dies including inwardly facing indentationswhich provide forming surfaces for the material stuffed by said stuffingledges, said upper and lower dies having vertical surfaces which areinward of said indentations when said upper and lower dies are movedtogether and which are spaced a greater distance from said indentationsthan the upper and lower dies are spaced from said outer dies atportions thereof away from said indentations.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,973,890 9/1934Tormyn et al. 72-399 2,268,838 1/1942 Lyon 113116 2,659,407 11/1953 Kay192-129 2,826,161 3/1958 Palmer 72345 2,966,872 1/1961 Schmocker -55CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD J. HERBST, Assistant Examiner.

1. FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELEMENTS EACH HAVING A PAIR OFPROJECTING LIPS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A WORKPIECE THEREBETWEEN FORSUPPORTING THE WORKPIECE WHEN SAID ELEMENTS ARE IN A FIRST POSITION, THELIPS OF ONE ELEMENT PROJECTING TOWARD THE LIPS OF THE OTHER ELEMENT SOTHAT THE ELEMENTS ENGAGE THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE WORKPIECE WHEN THEELEMENTS ARE IN SAID FIRST POSITION, A FORMING DIE MOVABLE THROUGH APATH BETWEEN AN INITIAL POSITION AND A POSITION AT WHICH THE DIE FORMSTHE WORKPIECE, THE LIPS OF EACH PAIR BEING SPACED APART IN THE DIRECTIONOF SAID PATH, A FURTHER POSITION OF SAID DIE ALONG SAID PATH BEING SUCHTHAT THE DIE IS RECEIVED BY AND FIRMLY SEATED UPON THE WORKPIECE BEINGSUPPORTED BY SAID ELEMENTS, SAID ELEMENTS BEING RECIPROCAL AWAY FROM ONEANOTHER FROM SAID FIRST POSITION TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SAID LIPSARE DISENGAGED FROM SAID WORKPIECE, A PAIR OF CAMS FIXED WITH RELATIONTO SAID DIE AND MOVABLE THEREWITH, SAID CAMS HAVING CAM SURFACES ADAPTEDTO LOCATE AND HOLD SAID ELEMENTS IN SAID FIRST POSITION WHEN SAID DIE ISBETWEEN SAID INITIAL AND FURTHER POSITION AND TO RELEASE SAID ELEMENTSFOR MOVEMENT AWAY FROM SAID FIRST POSITION WHEN SAID DIE IS BETWEEN SAIDFORMING POSITION AND SAID FURTHER POSITION, SPRING MEANS YIELDABLYHOLDING SAID ELEMENTS IN SAID FIRST POSITION, AND LATCH MEANS ARRANGEDTO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK SAID ELEMENTS IN SAID SECOND POSITION UPONMOVEMENT OF SAID ELEMENTS THERETO, AND PROJECTIONS UPON SAID CAMSPOSITIONED TO DISENGAGE SAID LATCH MEANS AS SAID DIE MOVES INTO SAIDFURTHER POSITION FROM SAID FORMING POSITION.